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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What toy has Jaime brought Amara?

2. How many parties does the reader see traveling on the mountain?

3. What are the men doing at the snow house?

4. About what do the villagers tease Esperanca?

5. What does Severo encounter at the entrance to his home?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Amara get away from the convent?

2. When a man comes up to Amara and Josefa as they cut nettles what does he tell them?

3. What does Severo tell the nuns about Amara's suffering?

4. What do Severo and Beneditx debate about and what are each of their views?

5. What does Palinor say about men who break the law?

6. What does Severo suggest to Beneditx?

7. What does Severo decide to do with the wolf girl?

8. How does Severo respond to Jamie's story?

9. How does Sor Blancha realize Amara misses Josefa and what happens when she does?

10. How does the author ask the reader to think about the island? What would those thoughts reveal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Severo's dream brings to light the role the Cardinal has played in Palinor's downfall. Severo easily could have let Palinor go, as the man clearly washed up on Grandinsula by accident, but Severo chose to detain Palinor, because he was interested in talking further with the atheist. What has happened to Palinor on Grandinsula is not a result of God's providence or God's hand, but of Severo's selfish desires.

1. Do you think it is Severo's fault that Palinor is being held? Why or why not?

2. Do you think Palinor should lie to save his life? Why or why not?

3. What would you do if you were in Severo's position? How about Palinor's?

Essay Topic 2

Fra Murta, who is supposed to represent the height of religious power, is compared to a blight in this chapter. The Inquisitor's relish for flushing out heretics is difficult for Severo to stomach, as is the church's convenient way of avoiding murder by having civil authorities execute heretics. Even Amara takes an immediate dislike to Fra Murta. As the characters in this novel struggle to reconcile Palinor's lack of religion with his good character, Fra Murta presents a stark contrast. He is full of religious zeal, yet he has no qualms ordering torture and cruel execution for supposed heretics.

1. Hypocrisy seems to be evident in Fra Murta's character. Explain, using examples, why one would say Fra Murta is a hypocrite.

2. Why do you think the characters, such as Severo and Beneditx struggle to reoncile Palinor's character with their beliefs?

3. Why do you think Amara took an instant dislike to Fra Murta?

Essay Topic 3

While Taddeo and Margalida break no laws, their heartless treatment of Josefa brings up questions of what is the true nature of Christian love, especially between a parent and a child.

1. Explain why you agree or disagree with the statement above.

2. Do you think just because someone claims to be religious it automatically makes them a good person? Why or why not?

3. Do you think Taddeo and Margalida's treatment of Josefa is abusive? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,031 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample